The Malik Report

Sounding like 2 Winter Classic announcements on Thursday. Morning in Detroit and afternoon in Ann Arbor. Plus GLI and OHL games at Comerica.

Update #2: The Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that next Monday and Wednesday are alternate announcement dates in case U of M doesn’t sign off on the event on Wednesday: Via RedWingsFeed, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL will announce that the Wings are hosting the 2013 Winter Classic in short order:

Just a reminder, 2013 NHL Winter Classic (TOR vs. DET at U of Michigan Big House) will be made official at Thursday news conference(s).

Update: The Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa reports that there’s a reason Thursday is the day (did somebody say alcohol-selling license?):

Plans by the NHL to play the 2013 Winter Classic in Michigan Stadium, where it almost certainly would draw the largest crowd ever to watch an NHL game, are proceeding, with the University of Michigan Board of Regents scheduling a special meeting at 10 a.m., Wednesday to approve the use.

“The public meeting is regarding authorization to enter into a facility-use lease for the NHL Winter Classic,” the University News Service said in a release.

Michigan officials refused to comment on the meeting, after it was announced by the campus news service.

“We won’t comment publicly on a proposal before it has been brought before the Board of Regents and approved,” said David Ablauf, a spokesman for the Athletics Department. “That is a policy that our athletic department has for all action items that go to them for a vote.”

NHL officials were not immediately available for comment. If the approval is granted, it is unclear whether an alumni game between the two participants, prospectively the Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs, would be played at Comerica Park. The Winter Classic is an NHL event, and while it is likely that the owners of the Red Wings, Mike and Marian Ilitch, have some say in where the game is played.

“We won’t comment publicly on a proposal before it has been brought before the Board of Regents and approved,” said David Ablauf, a spokesman for the Athletics Department. “That is a policy that our athletic department has for all action items that go to them for a vote.”

Comments

Here’s to the hope that this is another incentive for Lids to play one more year.

105,000 fans at The Big House? An Original Six matchup from the Eastern Conference (along with Boston, NYR, and Montreal) that doesn’t happen all that often anymore?

Yeah, Lids. You’re signing one for one more year.

Posted by
SYF
from Twerkin' with Anastasia Ashley on 02/07/12 at 07:02 PM ET

Damn good point, SYF. Hadn’t thought about the Lidstrom aspect of the Winter Classic. Hard to imagine how much 1 game could have an impact on his decision for an entire season, but a great point nonetheless.

Damn good point, SYF. Hadn’t thought about the Lidstrom aspect of the Winter Classic. Hard to imagine how much 1 game could have an impact on his decision for an entire season, but a great point nonetheless.

Posted by DrewBehr from The Mitten on 02/07/12 at 06:44 PM ET

Don’t get wrong, Drew, TPH’s a driven self-motivator par excellence. If this WC speculation (because it is, technically) is in fact real and copacetic with all parties involved, this would give Holland another chip to attract a high-powered top-six forward/top-four defensemen to play in Detroit and prove to Lids that he can go another year to win the Cup. It may be an unusual way to attract the talent that he needs but nothing wrong with trying.

Posted by
SYF
from Twerkin' with Anastasia Ashley on 02/08/12 at 03:29 AM ET

...and prove to Lids that he can go another year to win b2b Cups.

Fixed. =)

Posted by
wingsluver4ever
from TC on 02/08/12 at 11:49 AM ET

..and prove to Lids that he can go another year to win b2b Cups.

Fixed. =)

Posted by wingsluver4ever from TC on 02/08/12 at 09:49 AM ET

+19.

Posted by
SYF
from Twerkin' with Anastasia Ashley on 02/08/12 at 02:42 PM ET

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